Javits Asks West German Government for Greater Understanding of U.S. Mideast Position

July 10, 1970

BONN (Jul. 9)

Senator Jacob Javits, New York Republican, today told the press he had asked the West German government for a more sympathetic understanding of the American position in the Middle East. He said he had asked for aid to the American naval presence in the Mediterranean, a willingness to enter into a broad economic plan for the Mideast and a greater understanding of the fact that the Mideast crisis was as much a European as an American security problem. The Senator told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that American policy, as he understood it, is to sustain Israel with arms and to make clear to the Soviet Union that Israel would not be allowed to become vulnerable through an imbalance of arms or the collapse of its economy. He said that no open declaration of the number of planes to be given to Israel at certain dates was necessary now that the U.S. has agreed to underwrite support of Israel’s armed forces and to see that Israel’s position is not prejudiced. That, he added, may be far more of a blanket guarantee under which much may take place without there being a “Fourth of July celebration” every time a Phantom is delivered to Israel. Sen. Javits said President Nixon’s television interview went far beyond anything he had said before because “We will not allow Israel to be euchred out of its position.” The Senator added, “Great powers don’t bluff.” Earlier in the day, Sen. Javits had met with Foreign Minister Walter Scheel, the Minister at the Chancellors Office Horst Emke, Defense Minister Helmut Schmidt and former Chancellor Kurt Kiesinger.